Eastern Europe
SBC Summit Tbilisi 2024 Promises Growth and a Deep-Dive into Eastern Europe & Central Asia
SBC Summit Tbilisi is poised to reclaim the spotlight on 25-26 June at the Sheraton Grand Tbilisi Metechi Palace, marking its early return after a highly successful inaugural edition in October 2023.
1,500 senior sports betting and iGaming executives will reconvene in the heart of Georgia’s capital, to solidify their foothold in the promising markets of Eastern Europe and Central Asia, while gaining invaluable insights into the nuances that shape industry dynamics.
SBC has once again partnered with SMH to organise SBC Summit Tbilisi, continuing the event’s partnership that began with the SBC Summit CIS in Kyiv in 2021. SMH is an international iGaming and sports management organisation based in Georgia, bringing valuable local knowledge to an event that incorporates unique elements reflective of the vibrant Eastern European and Central Asian markets.
Lasha Machavariani, Founder and CEO of SMH, said: “I’m thrilled that the SBC Summit Tbilisi is making a comeback to my beautiful home country of Georgia. Witnessing all the engaging conversations and networking that took place last year filled me with pride, affirming that the effort that goes into organising an event of this calibre is absolutely and undoubtedly worthwhile.
“Offering a platform for those keen on Eastern European and Central Asian markets feels not only rewarding but also essential, especially given all the buzz in these markets we’re diving into. If this event wasn’t on your radar yet, now’s the perfect time to start considering it.”
Andrew McCarron, Managing Director at SBC, commented: “Operators, suppliers and affiliates who want to make a mark in the region simply have to attend SBC Summit Tbilisi if they are going to compete successfully. These markets are tricky to thrive in without local knowledge, which is why SBC has partnered with SMH in order to provide the platform for companies to perform effectively.”
Centered on these dynamic regions, the event promises an in-depth exploration of key markets, including Georgia, Romania, Serbia, Bulgaria, Kazakhstan and Slovenia among others, and guarantees to be a melting pot of ideas and strategies tailored for these geographically diverse regions. The conference agenda will focus on trends including the new regulatory landscapes in Eastern Europe and Central Asia, the influence of innovations from crypto to AI, and new developments in eSports, payments, and influencer marketing, among other topics.
Last year, the host country had a strong operator presence during the inaugural summit, with industry leaders like Adjarabet, Betlive, Crocobet, Europebet, Leaderbet, LVBet, Superbet, TotoGaming and Vbet making their mark.
Past event attendees responded exceptionally well to the inaugural edition of the event. Tereza Tokmajyan, CMO of TotoGaming, called it an ‘excellent opportunity for operators and service providers from the region.’ Dmitry Starostenkov, CEO of EvenBet Gaming, described it as “featuring a very active and representative audience, outstanding topics, and speakers”. Additionally, Vakhtang Mdivani, CPO and Co-Founder of Promofy, praised the event, expressing: “Hosting such an exceptional event in Georgia for the first time and setting the bar so high was truly awesome”.
This year’s show floor is set to be significantly larger, featuring over 60 exhibitors and sponsors, effectively doubling the count from the previous year. Moreover, there is an anticipated 70% growth in the count of operator representatives, and affiliate representatives are poised to experience a 50% increase compared to the figures reported last year.
To cater to the growing interest, this year’s event will expand its agenda, commencing with a half-day conference on the opening day (25 June). This addition brings the total number of featured speakers to 60, marking a significant 50% increase from last year.
The first day will feature a poker tournament followed by the Official Opening Party sponsored by Setanta Sports, taking place at Stamba Hotel. On the second day, a VIP dinner exclusively for C-level executives will be held at the Republic Restaurant, followed by a Closing Party at the Republic Event Hall.
Bucharest
Eeze opens 1,200 sqm Bucharest hub for technical teams
The new AFI Park Floreasca office opened on 29 June as Eeze grows its Romanian headcount past 60.
Eeze has opened a new Bucharest office at AFI Park Floreasca, with the 1,200 sqm hub officially launched on 29 June following completion of the relocation project.
The Bucharest site will house Eeze’s technical teams and support its growth plans across Europe. The company said the office is one of its three major international hubs, alongside its headquarters in Malta and its UK operations in London.
Eeze said it employs more than 900 people across Europe. Its Romanian team stands at over 60 employees and is continuing to grow, with active recruitment across engineering and corporate roles.
Lai Fatt Chiang, Chief Executive Officer at Eeze, said: “The opening of our Bucharest office is an important milestone for Eeze and reflects our long-term commitment to Romania. What began as a strategic expansion project has now become a thriving operational hub that plays a huge role in our global business.
“We have been extremely impressed by the quality of talent available in Bucharest and look forward to continuing our growth here.”
The post Eeze opens 1,200 sqm Bucharest hub for technical teams appeared first on EE Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
central asia
Groove confirms attendance at SBC Summit Tbilisi 2026
Groove has confirmed it will attend SBC Summit Tbilisi 2026, scheduled for 15–16 July at the Sheraton Grand Tbilisi Metechi Palace, as it targets growth across Eastern European and Central Asian iGaming markets.
The conference is expected to draw more than 2,500 industry professionals, according to the company, following 2025’s record attendance with delegates from 44 countries. Groove said it will bring a full commercial delegation to pursue partnerships with regional operators.
Yahale Meltzer, Co-Founder and CEO of Groove, said: “Eastern Europe and Central Asia represent some of the most dynamic growth opportunities in iGaming today. SBC Summit Tbilisi is where the region’s decision-makers converge, and we are arriving with a platform built for scale, speed, and regulatory precision.” He added: “Our Unseen Architecture of predictive auto-scaling, atomic transactions, and a real-time compliance mesh ensures operators can launch fast and adapt locally, whether they are entering Georgia, the Balkans, the Baltics, or Central Asia.”
Meltzer also pointed to the SBC Regulators Summit as a factor in the company’s focus on the event, saying: “With regulation front and centre as a business-critical priority, and direct access to regulators through the SBC Regulators Summit, this event is where commercial realities are forged. Groove delivers the toolbox, the content, and the expertise to turn ambition into measurable growth.”
Ana Sokhadze, Operations Manager at Groove, who will lead the company’s presence in Tbilisi, said: “SBC Summit Tbilisi is the meeting point for the region’s most ambitious operators, affiliates, and technology suppliers. This is where high-value networking translates into real commercial opportunity.” She added: “We are not here to hand out brochures. We are here to have conversations that become partnerships.”
The post Groove confirms attendance at SBC Summit Tbilisi 2026 appeared first on EE Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
Acquisitions/Merger
Super agrees to acquire Romania’s Crafting Technologies for new Cluj tech hub
Deal would add a Romanian engineering base and 50 planned hires, expanding Super’s European technology footprint.
Super has agreed to acquire Crafting Technologies, a software development company based in Cluj-Napoca, Romania, as it moves to open its first technology hub in the country. The transaction is subject to customary approvals.
Super said the acquisition will establish a Romania hub alongside its existing tech hubs in Croatia, Spain, Netherlands, United Kingdom and Brazil, which it says together include more than 900 software engineers and developers.
As part of the expansion in Cluj, Super plans to open an initial 50 new positions and bring Crafting Technologies’ engineering team into the organisation.
Albert Simsensohn, Deputy CEO, Super, said: “We are confident that Romania’s mature and competitive technology ecosystem provides access to specialized engineering capabilities essential for Super’s future roadmap. Moreover, the city of Cluj-Napoca offers a vibrant environment of innovation combined with operational efficiency and proximity to our regional hubs.
“Crafting Technologies will bring a proven internal talent academy that develops engineers and upskills existing talent, strengthening our long-term capacity and supporting the execution of our technology roadmap.”
Gabriel Bota, Co-founder & CEO, Crafting Technologies, added: “Over the past 10 years, through Crafting Software and now Crafting Technologies, we have built a team focused on engineering quality, trust, and long-term partnerships. What started as a small group of friends, passionate engineers, evolved into a company delivering critical systems for high-growth businesses.
“Joining forces with Super feels like a natural next step for us. We already share a strong technical connection, and also a very similar way of thinking about ownership, speed, and building reliable technology that can scale over time.
“We’re excited about continuing to grow the Cluj technology hub together and bringing the same culture and mindset that shaped Crafting since day one.”
The post Super agrees to acquire Romania’s Crafting Technologies for new Cluj tech hub appeared first on EE Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
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